Tuesday 22 December 2015 15:02, UK
Sir Ian Botham is tipping England to topple South Africa in their own backyard.
Alastair Cook's side head into the first of four Tests against the world's top-ranked team in Durban on Boxing Day.
The tourists have impressed in winning both their warm-up matches in Potchefstroom and Pietermaritzburg and go into the series full of confidence.
And Botham feels it is that growing confidence that gives England a great chance of a first series win in South Africa in 11 years.
The Sky Sports commentator said: "It's a series England can win - and I think they will win.
"South Africa are coming off the back of a 3-0 hammering in India; they have some injury concerns and are vulnerable."
Cook and Joe Root both hit centuries as England completed their preparations for the Boxing Day opener, live on Sky Sports, with an innings and 91 run victory over South Africa 'A' on Tuesday.
The result has prompted Sky Bet to cut the price on England to win the series from 11/4 into 9/4, with the Proteas the 8/11 favourites.
England won convincingly on their last Test appearance at Kingsmead back in 2009, with Cook hitting a century and Stuart Broad taking six wickets. They also drew there in 2004, but remain marginal underdogs ahead of the December match.
Botham expects Alex Hales to open the batting and James Taylor, who scored a century in the opening warm-up clash, to figure in the top six, while he also thinks the fit-again Steven Finn will get the final seamer's slot ahead of Mark Footitt.
"I've got to back England. They are improving all the time and have a real chance," said the former England skipper.
"The weather could play a part, but the way these sides play, I don't think there will be any draws so I'm going for a 3-1 England win."
Botham is also tipping captain Cook to maintain the excellent form he showed in the UAE and be England's top series run scorer at odds of 5/2 and has picked all-rounder Ben Stokes at 10/1 as his 'value bet' to take the most wickets after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Beefy's Bets
England win series - 9/4
England win 3-1 - 11/1
Top England bat series: Alastair Cook - 5/2
Top England bowler series: Ben Stokes - 10/1
Top SA bat series: AB de Villiers - 9/4
Top SA bowler series: Morne Morkel - 5/2
1st Test bets: South Africa v England
England win - 15/8
Top England bat first inns: Alastair Cook - 100/30
Top England bowler first inns: Ben Stokes - 5/1
Top SA bat first innings: AB de Villiers -7/2
Top SA bowler first innings: Morne Morkel - 11/4
